“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” -Florence Nightingale

194 years ago today, Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy. Most of us learned about Florence Nightingale in elementary school; she was presented to us as an emblem of selflessness, a tireless advocate for the sick and helpless. Those things are true, but she represents more than that.

Today, on Florence Nightingale’s birthday and International Nurses Day, it’s worth looking back on her many accomplishments to learn not only from her kindness, but also from her business acumen and her innovative spirit.

Involved in charity from the time she was a child, Nightingale knew early that she wanted to go into nursing. For her, the work was a calling, and she turned down marriage and a life of leisure to pursue it. Her dedication came across quickly in her work, and she rose quickly in the ranks.

During the Crimean war in 1854, she was personally recruited to lead the nursing effort at Scutari, a hospital for British soldiers. At the time, it was common for soldiers in hospitals to die of infectious diseases considerably more frequently than from war wounds.

A Different Approach

While most shrugged their shoulders and agreed that there wasn’t much hope for soldiers who ended up at Scutari, Nightingale’s approach to the challenge was both forward-thinking and authoritative.

She started her work at Scutari by personally collecting hundreds of scrubbers. Her observations during the recent London cholera outbreak had convinced her that cleanliness was vital to stopping the spread of disease, and so she recruited the least sick soldiers at Scutari to help her clean every inch of the hospital.

These efforts to improve sanitary conditions may not seem particularly innovative today, but in the 1850s, hygiene was not widely understood to be crucial to disease prevention. The death rate in the hospital dropped from 33% to 2% over the course of her first year there.

Innovation in Care

Nightingale’s legacy as the “Lady with the lamp,” pacing hospital hallways in the night to watch for anyone that needed her, speaks to her great empathy and dedication to patient care. Her methods were not just personal, but structural as well.

She created a focus on improving what we would today categorize as “the patient experience,” a concept almost unimaginable in the chaotic environment of a Victorian-era war hospital. These efforts included an “invalid’s kitchen” to produce better food and track patients with special dietary requirements, the establishment of a laundry system, and a classroom and library for patients to use during their stay.

A Birthday to Remember

Florence Nightingale’s work and writings saved thousands of lives and sparked national healthcare reform. She was a leader and an innovator in healthcare: admirable in any scenario, but especially impressive in the Victorian era, a time in which female leaders were rare and superstitious speculation still pervaded medicine.

Florence Nightingale’s work and writings saved thousands of lives and sparked national healthcare reform. She was a fearless leader and an innovator in healthcare: admirable in any scenario, but especially impressive in the Victorian era, a time in which female leaders were rare and superstitious speculation still pervaded medicine. Even if you think you know her story, she’s worth taking a closer look.